Owls Head to ask voters to accept $25,000 bequest, consider buying land for hiking trails

OWLS HEAD, Maine — A special town meeting is scheduled for next week to accept a $25,000 bequest from a longtime resident and to use part of that money to try to acquire about 7 acres for hiking trails.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, May 6, at the community building.

The first article asks residents whether they want to accept $25,000 bequeathed to the town from the estate of Anna Kangas. She was a longtime resident of the town and had been a teacher, according to Selectman Linda Post.

Kangas’ will stipulates that the money must be used to either maintain existing public facilities or for capital improvements in the town.

The other article on the town meeting warrant is for voters to authorize the community’s conservation commission to negotiate and purchase — on terms they deem in the best interest of the town — two lots owned by Owls Head Property LLC. The lots are located on South Shore Drive and consist of about 7 acres.

The lots are for sale with a combined asking price of about $365,000.

Post said no property tax dollars would be used and the conservation commission would seek donations and grants to buy the land. The warrant article also requests permission to take $5,000 from the Kangas bequest as seed money to help with the acquisition, she said.